Adherence to hormonal deprivation therapy in prostate cancer in clinical practice: a retrospective, single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Androgen-deprivation therapy is one of the options available for treating both advanced and metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). It is used as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy, either alone or in combination with radiotherapy (RT) or surgery. The aim of this study is to appraise adherence to ADT.

METHODS: A total of 136 PCa patients on ADT (leuprorelin, triptorelin, and degarelix) were monitored between January 2008 and December 2015. Demographic, histopathological, and clinical data were collected.

RESULTS: Mean age was 76 years and PSA was 91.9 ng/ml. Forty-six patients (34%) had a Gleason score >7. One hundred and eight patients were treated exclusively with ADT (53 (49%) leuprorelin, 45 (42%) triptorelin, and 10 (9%) degarelix). Mean follow-up was 3.5 years, with a mean overall prescription time of 3.4 years. Adherence to ADT was 95%. Sixty-three patients are currently on therapy, while 45 have discontinued treatment. Reasons for discontinuation were death (56%), physician's choice (33%), and patient's preferences (11%).

CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to ADT was optimal, probably owing to its balanced side effect and benefit profile. Patient's death was the most frequent reason for discontinuation.